Labor Of Love

Building your own tiny house is a constant pull between getting it down faster and getting it done so that you take pride in your work. Is there an easier way? Of course! Is it worth taking that path? Usually not! I’m going to live in a very small space. The limited space I will have should be the best it can be.

Like most things in life, there’s no “right” answer. Many of you reading this blog will have a different opinion and that’s ok. What I appreciate the most about this process is learning what you care about and what you’re willing to spend time on. That’s when your house begins to feel like yourhome.

For me, that 1 thing, is the shingles. After researching several siding options I fell in love with a picture I found online (next time I’ll save it so I can show you). The house had this really cool, casual, beach vibe yet had clean lines so it felt like a modern beach house. After saving the picture on Pinterest, I headed to the store for stain samples.

Tip-don’t skimp on stain samples. Even if the name is the same, brands do look different! I ordered sample sizes online and they were delivered in 2 days. I used a shingle for my sample so the color would come out real. I even displayed all the samples in my livingroom so I could look at them for a few days before making a decision. I also recommend looking at the colors outside and in when its sunny and cloudy. It’s a big decision and you don’t want to regret it. Exterior siding is the personal style of your home.

I’m a girl so I’ll put it this way, “siding like your skin, it’s the largest organ in your body and you have to take care of it.” With that in mind, this is the where the labor of love comes in. After researching several staining methods I chose to dip each shingle to make sure all sides were covered. Cedar shingles last for a long time, but why not make them last even longer?

And that’s where the SUPER STAINING STATION came to birth. 9 bundles of about 29 shingles each= 261 shingles to stain. Each one handled with care. I used 2 Rubbermaid containers and a roller to get consistent coverage on all sides before placing them in the drying rack we created. Fun fact 1 bundle happen to fill the drying rack perfectly!

9 days of staining and the product came out just like I hoped.

Tip- I learned how to get the clean lines I saw in the inspiration picture by using a speed square to line up shingles around a corner. Just use a pencil and you’re golden!Proof! Perfect!I’m still nervous on ladders but it’s worth it.

Post navigation

Menu

"Your outlook upon life, your estimate of yourself, your estimate of your value are largely colored by your environment. Your whole career will be modified, shaped, molded by your surroundings, by the character of the people with whom you come in contact every day." Orison Swett

You'll never know who you could be unless you change what you do and experience new things.

Follow Blog via Email

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.